Beckham Becomes Britain’s First Billionaire Sportsman

Sir David Beckham, the former Manchester United star, has become Britain’s first billionaire sportsman, according to the 2026 Sunday Times Rich List.

Beckham and his wife Victoria’s collective wealth surpassed the billion-pound mark this year, reaching an estimated £1.185 billion ($1.6 billion). This placed them second in the Sunday Times’ list of wealthiest sportspeople, behind the family of former Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone, whose fortune was valued at £2 billion.

The former England captain co-owns Inter Miami, Major League Soccer’s most valuable club, estimated at $1.45 billion (£1.07 billion). He has also earned substantial sums as a brand ambassador for companies such as Adidas and Hugo Boss. Victoria Beckham’s wealth primarily stems from her eponymous fashion label, having initially gained fame and fortune as a member of the Spice Girls.

While the Beckhams’ wealth grew over the past year, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of Beckham’s former club, dropped from seventh to ninth on the overall Rich List. His fortune decreased by £1.85 billion to £15.194 billion. The list compilers attributed this to a re-evaluation of his petrochemicals company, Ineos, to £17 billion, citing “rising debt, falling revenues and a loss of £515.7 million.” This decline was less severe than the previous year, when his wealth reportedly plummeted by over £6 billion.

Joining Beckham on the richest sportspeople list are promoters Barry and Eddie Hearn, whose combined wealth was estimated at £1.035 billion. Barry Hearn is the founder and president of Matchroom Sport, a leading promoter in boxing, darts, and snooker. His son Eddie is the chairman of Matchroom and is the public face of its boxing division.